Paint can



July 7, 1964 R. H. VERNON 3,139,646

PAINT CAN Filed Aug. 3, 1962 2 Sheet's--Sheei'l l Fig. 3

INVENTOR. ROBERT H. VERNON B" /a 744m ATTORNEY July 7, 1964 R. H. VERNON3,139,646

PAINT CAN Filed Aug. 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR.

ROBERT H. lVERNON BY MZ, dfQv ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,139,646PAINT CAN Robert H. Vernon, Ambler, Pa., assignor to Arvon ProductsCompany, Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation ot PennsylvaniaFiled Aug. 3, '1962, Ser. No. 214,649 5 Claims. (Cl. 15-257.06)

This invention relates to a paint can. More particularly, it relates toa paint can having specific suitability for use with roll-on type paintapplicators. Even more particularly, it relates to a paint can adaptedfor congversion into a tray-type receptacle for use with a paintapplication roller.

The application of paint by means of a roller rather than a brush orspray gun is very popular, particularly for use by the individualhouseholder. It is customary to provide a tray having an inclinedbottom, into which paint is poured from a container. A roller offelt-like material and mounted for rotation on a handle is then dippedinto the paint in the lower portion of the tray and the roller is rolledalong the inclined bottom to properly distribute the paint in theroller. It is apparent that the householder or other painter requires atray as well as a supply of paint, and that he must either discard orclean the tray after use, particularly if another color is to be used.

Attempts have been made to eliminate the necessity for a separate tray,but the present invention is an improvement over drawbacks in suchattempts. An example of such an attempt `is disclosed in Patent2,983,938.

It is an object of this invention to provide a paint can.

It is an object of this invention to provide a paint can adapted for usewith a roller applicator.

It is another object of this invention to provide a paint can adapted toreceive a application roller whereby the necessity for a separate trayis obviated. Y

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in thefollowing specification and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view, partially fragmented, of a paint can androller;

FIGURE 2a is an isometric view of a paint can with covering materialpartly removed;

FIGURE 2b is an isometric view of a paint can with the tray portionformed;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely through a paintcan;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view of the slot in the can;

FIGURE 5a is a cross-sectional view through the side f a can at the slotshowing one embodiment thereof; and

FIGURE b is a cross-sectional view through the side of a can at the slotshowing another embodiment thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of the side of a can showing the label imprintedwith cutting instructions.

A paint can generally designated 10 is shown in FIG- URE l. This can ispreferably rectangular and is often ice dle for the paint can. Theroller 30 is provided with a sleeve 32, preferably a cylinder of paperor cardboard. A strip of tape, preferably of the pressure-sensitivetype, is applied over sleeve 32 and is affixed to the can.

An alternate form of attaching the roller-carrying handle is toeliminate sleeve 32 and to shield the tape mastic from the rollersurface by folding it upon itself Where it crosses the roller. Whilethis provision of a roller is considered novel and inventive in itself,it is understood that the other aspects of this invention may be carriedout even though a roller is not included.

Thev general structure of this invention may be best understoodinitially in connection with FIGURES 2a and 2b. The paint can comprisesends 11 and sides 12. A filling hole and cap (not shown) are provided onone of the ends 11.

of a one gallon size, although the exact shape and size On one of thesides 12, preferably one of the larger sides if the sides vary in area,a U-shaped slit or slot 12a is provided. As best shown in FIGURE 2b, theU-shaped slot comprises three sides, the base of the U being generallyparallel to one edge of the side 12 and the two adjacent sides thereofbeing roughly parallel to the edge of the ends 11. For a one gallon can,the base of the U may be eight inches long, and each of the adjacentsides may be five inches long. Each side may be spaced 1%6 from the edgeof the nearest end 11. The important aspect of these dimensions is thatthe base of the U be wide enough to accommodate the roller 30. It is notessential that the slot include straight sides, and curves may be usedif desired, for example, if called for by manufacturing procedures. Theslot itself has been found to be suitable if its width is between 1/32and 1/16 inch, although it is apparent that this dimensional range Whilepreferable is not critical. The cam 10 is generally of the common tinnedsheet steel type.

At one end of the U-shaped slot 12a, a hole 12d is provided. This holeor expanded slot portion is provided for a reason explained below. Aplurality of drain holes 12a are provided as shown within the area of12b defined by the U-shaped slot, which may also be referred to as thetray portion or flap portion. The dual purpose of these holes isexplained below.

A detailed cross-section of one form of the cornplete can is best shownin FIGURE 5a. The sheet metal can body 12 is provided with slot 12a asdescribed. With the can 10 lying on its side as shown in FIGURE 2a,paint 46 is at the level shown in FIGURE 5a. A piece, preferablyrectangular, of plastic 14 is provided on the outside of the can overthe slot 12a with its expanded portion 12d and the holes 12C. Thisplastic sheet may be made of any suitable plastic, preferably a exibleone, such as mylar, polyvinyl chloride, or a polyolen. The pressuresensitive adhesive 14a is pro vided on one side of sheet 14 and thecovering material or sheet 14 is then firmly adhered to the can surfaceover the openings.

Finally, the usual tag paper or light cardboard outer covering 15 isapplied around all the sides 12 or partially around them. This outercovering normally has label information printed thereon. In the presentinvention this outer covering 15 also has printed thereon indications ofwhere the user should cut.

For use, a knife or other pointed instrument is thrust through the tagpaper 15 at the hole 12d which serves the function of providing an easystarting place for the cut. The knife is then run through slot 12a,cutting through tag paper 15 and sheet 14. Either before or after thiscut is made, the holes 12e are punched through the tag paper 15 andsheet 14 by the sharp pointed implement. The roller 30, or a similarroller, equipped with 3 a handle, is then ready for use. As best shownin FIG- URE 3, the roller is placed on the flap 12b and rolled towardthe base of the U-shaped slot. The flap is depressed and the rollercontacts the paint 40.

Having picked up a load of paint, the roller 30 is rolled back upwardlyon iiap 12b. Excess paint is squeezed out of the roller during thisaction. Some of this paint runs down the flap and some runs through oris squeezed into the drain holes 12e. In addition to this scuppereffect, the holes 12C weaken the can surface somewhat near the uncutedge of fiap 12b so that the flap is more easily depressed by the roller36 and so that the bend will take place at r near the uncut edge.

It has been found that the fiap or tray 12b tends to return toward theclosed position after each passage of the roller, due to the naturalresiliency of the can. This is advantageous since it tends to shut thecan between dips of the roller and thus inhibit possible spilling. Ithas been found possible to carry the can from place to place even afteropening and use because of this closing and sealing tendency.

As the level of paint 40 lowers, the roller is pressed down harder onthe flap and its depressed or bent position tends to lower. Thisprovides continual easy access to the paint. When the paint 40 is almostexhausted, the can 10 may be turned through 90 so that it rests on theuncut small side adjacent to the long base of the U-shaped slot 12a. InFIGURE 2b, this side is the rear one. In this position, the remainingpaint runs to this smaller area, and the roller is inserted over the lipof the base of the U-shaped cut and can easily pick up the remainingpaint.

In FIGURE 5b, is shown a preferred way of assembling the can 10. Arectangular sheet of plastic, as has been described, is provided on theinterior of the can, adhering thereto by means of a pressure sensitiveadhesive 14a. An 8 mil vinyl sheet has been found satisfactory, and thedimensions of this sheet are approximately the same as those shown forsheet 14 in FIG- URE 2a.

Another, although not preferred form is illustrated in FIGURE 4. Theslot 12a is filled With a Vinyl wax impregnated fish line or cord 17. Anadditional mass of Vinyl wax 1.8 is provided over the cord 17, and thesefillers are then heat-sealed in place. In this embodiment, the end ofthe fish line 17 is permitted to extend through the tag paper or labelso that the slot may be opened by pulling7 the cord. It is obvious thatother known heat-scalable or similar materials may be used in thisembodiment.

A preferred exact arrangement of the various cuts is shown in FIGURE 6.In this embodiment, a can side 50 is shown covered with the tag paper orsimilar label material 14. Instructions for cuts to be made by the userare imprinted on this label and are shown by dotted lines. The user isinstructed to cut along these dotted lines with a sharp implement, andin doing so he severs the plastic sheet positioned below the slots andother cut-out portions in the body of the can, which in turn arepositioned directly below the dotted instruction lines.

In this preferred embodiment, the form of the cutouts has been varied,largely for certain reasons of ease of manufacturing and of mechanicalstrength. The cutouts are made in the metal body and the plastic sheetis affixed before the body is bent to form the sides. It is desirable toprovide increased structural strength at certain weak points in themetal to avoid deforming the metal when the bends are made by automaticmachinery to form the sides. It is understood that the exact form shownin FIGURE 6 is highly preferable for manufacturing purposes, but that ifcans are to be hand bent into shape, the simpler cut-outs shown inFIGURES 2a and 2b are acceptable.

In FIGURE 6, the starting hole or expanded slot portion 51 is providedat a point on one of the legs of the 4 U instead of at the end thereof,as starting hole 12d is as shown in FIGURE 2b. This positioning preventsundue weakening of the can material along the uncut edge of the ap. Theinitial cut is made by plunging the knife or other implement into hole12d or 5i.

The base of the U-shaped slot is made undulating as shown at 52 inFIGURE 6. This form increases the structural strength at this point andprevents deformation during the bending of the can body to form thesides of the can.

Finally, the holes 12C are replaced by tabs 5S, 56, 57, and 58, whichare cut along the dotted lines and are then bent downwardly into theinterior of the can. The holes and tabs each may be described asopenings. This type of drain structure has been found to be superior tothat of the holes 12e and also provides greater material strength alongthe uncut edge of the flap, for reasons that have been discussed.

It is understood that an ordinary handle can be used instead of theroller as shown in FIGURE l. In such a case the can is basically similarto that of 1, 2, and 5 gallon cans commonly used to hold thinners andsolvents, and equipped with narrow-necked and screw-capped openings.

The usual separate tray employed in roller painting is equipped withridges or serrations on the surface. It has been found that these ridgesare not essential to the function of the apparatus, and they aredifficult to incorporate in the flap portion 12b in the can-makingprocess. However, they could be included if desired.

Contrary to what might be expected, it has been found that cans made inaccord with this disclosure can be stored and carried safely withoutbursting.

The scope of this invention is to be determined by the following claimsand is not to be limited by the foregoing disclosure and accompanyingdrawings which are illustrative and not limiting.

I claim:

l. A combined paint can and roller tray of resilient sheet materialhaving a side, a slot of generally U-shaped configuration in said side,said slot defining a flap portion, a plurality of openings in said flap,removable sealing means over each of said openings, and removable meansto seal said slot, whereby said iiap is capable of resilient depressioninto the interior of said can after said sealing means have beenremoved, and said openings provide excess paint run-offs and rollerfriction means after said sealing means over said openings have beenremoved, said openings extending through said flap, and said flapresiliently biased to tend to close said slot.

2. A can as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removable sealing means isa plastic sheet atiixed to the interior of said can and covering saidslot.

3. A can as set forth in claim l wherein said removable sealing means isa plastic sheet aliixed to the exterior of said can and covering saidslot.

4. A can 'as set forth in claim 1 wherein said removable sealing meansis a cord positioned in said slot, said cord having one end thereofupstanding above said can.

5. A combined paint can and roller tray comprising:

(l) a can of resilient sheet material having at least one fiat side;

(2) a generally U-shaped slot in said side, comprising a base and a legat each end of said base;

(n) said base having an undulating configuration; (b) an expanded slotportion in one of said legs; (3) a plurality of slots, each said slotdefining a tab, each of said tabs within that portion of said side whichis partially enclosed by said U-shaped slot;

(4) a plastic sheet affixed to said side and covering said U-shaped slotand said tab slots;

(5) an outer covering on the outside of said side having imprintedthereon markings showing the location of said expanded slot portion,U-shaped slot, and tabs, hidden by said outer covering.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ImpeyJuly 17, 1906 Clark Jan. 20, 1914 Galler Mar. 15, 1938 Farrow Apr. 5,1955 Carper Apr. 23, 1957 Fiske Mar. 18, 1958 5 Wilson et al Aug. 4,1959 Borah Aug. 4, 1959 Veazey May 16, 1961 Tretwold et al. June 20,1961 Zastrow Sept. 26, 1961 Kus Dec. 5, 1961 Hennessey Aug. 14, 1962FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Nov. 6, 1934 France May 2, 1955 France Feb. 27,1961

1. A COMBINED PAINT CAN AND ROLLER TRAY OF RESILIENT SHEET MATERIALHAVING A SIDE, A SLOT OF GENERALLY U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION IN SAID SIDE,SAID SLOT DEFINING A FLAP PORTION, A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN SAID FLAP,REMOVABLE SEALING MEANS OVER EACH OF SAID OPENINGS, AND REMOVABLE MEANSTO SEAL SAID SLOT, WHEREBY SAID FLAP IS CAPABLE OF RESILIENT DEPRESSIONINTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAN AFTER SAID SEALING MEANS HAVE BEENREMOVED, AND SAID OPENINGS PROVIDE EXCESS PAINT RUN-OFFS AND ROLLERFRICTION MEANS AFTER SAID SEALING MEANS OVER SAID OPENINGS HAVE BEENREMOVED,